How to Implement Real-Time Live Location Tracking in Flutter Apps?

Are you tired of building location-based apps that lack the “wow” factor? Do you want to create an immersive experience for your users by tracking their location in real-time? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of implementing real-time live location tracking in Flutter apps. Buckle up, and let’s dive into the fascinating world of location-based services!

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following:

• Flutter installed on your machine (_version 2.0 or higher_)
• A basic understanding of Flutter and Dart programming language
• A Google Maps API key (we’ll discuss this later)

Understanding Location Tracking in Flutter

In Flutter, location tracking is achieved using the `geolocator` package. This package provides a simple and efficient way to access the device’s location and track changes in real-time. But before we dive into the implementation, let’s understand the basics of location tracking in Flutter:

• **Location permissions**: Your app needs to request location permissions from the user to access their device’s location.
• **Location services**: Your device’s operating system provides location services, which allow your app to access the device’s location.
• **Geolocation**: Geolocation is the process of determining the device’s location using GPS, Wi-Fi, or cellular networks.

Setting Up the Geolocator Package

To use the `geolocator` package, you need to add it to your Flutter project. Follow these steps:

1. Open your `pubspec.yaml` file and add the following line under `dependencies`:

dependencies:
  flutter:
    sdk: flutter
  geolocator: ^8.2.1

2. Run `flutter pub get` in your terminal to fetch the package.

Requesting Location Permissions

Before you can access the device’s location, you need to request location permissions from the user. You can do this using the `geolocator` package:

import 'package:geolocator/geolocator.dart';

Future requestLocationPermission() async {
  bool serviceEnabled;
  LocationPermission permission;

  serviceEnabled = await Geolocator.isLocationServiceEnabled();
  if (!serviceEnabled) {
    // Return an error or prompt the user to enable location services
  }

  permission = await Geolocator.checkPermission();
  if (permission == LocationPermission.denied) {
    permission = await Geolocator.requestPermission();
    if (permission == LocationPermission.denied) {
      // Return an error or prompt the user to grant location permission
    }
  }
}

Getting the Device’s Location

Once you have the necessary permissions, you can get the device’s location using the `Geolocator.getCurrentPosition()` method:

Future getLocation() async {
  Position position = await Geolocator.getCurrentPosition(desiredAccuracy: LocationAccuracy.high);
  print('Latitude: ${position.latitude}, Longitude: ${position.longitude}');
}

Implementing Real-Time Location Tracking

To implement real-time location tracking, you need to listen to location updates using the `Geolocator.getPositionStream()` method:

StreamSubscription _positionStream;

Future startLocationTracking() async {
  _positionStream = Geolocator.getPositionStream().listen(
    (Position position) {
      print('Latitude: ${position.latitude}, Longitude: ${position.longitude}');
      // Update your app's UI or perform any other action here
    },
  );
}

Future stopLocationTracking() async {
  if (_positionStream != null) {
    _positionStream.cancel();
    _positionStream = null;
  }
}

Integrating with Google Maps

To display the user’s location on a map, you need to integrate your app with Google Maps. First, create a new Google Maps API key:

1. Go to the Google Cloud Console and create a new project.

2. Enable the Google Maps JavaScript API.

3. Create a new API key and restrict it to your Flutter app’s package name.

4. Add the API key to your `android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml` file:

<application>
  ...
  <meta-data
    android:name="com.google.android.geo.API_KEY"
    android:value="YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"/>
</application>

Next, add the `google_maps_flutter` package to your Flutter project:

dependencies:
  ...
  google_maps_flutter: ^2.1.2

Now, you can display the user’s location on a map:

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:google_maps_flutter/google_maps_flutter.dart';

class MapScreen extends StatefulWidget {
  @override
  _MapScreenState createState() => _MapScreenState();
}

class _MapScreenState extends State<MapScreen> {
  GoogleMapController _mapController;
  Position _currentPosition;

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      body: GoogleMap(
        onMapCreated: (GoogleMapController controller) {
          _mapController = controller;
        },
        initialCameraPosition: CameraPosition(
          target: LatLng(0, 0),
          zoom: 12,
        ),
        markers: {
          if (_currentPosition != null)
            Marker(
              markerId: MarkerId('user_location'),
              position: LatLng(_currentPosition.latitude, _currentPosition.longitude),
            ),
        },
      ),
    );
  }

  void _updateLocation(Position position) {
    setState(() {
      _currentPosition = position;
    });
  }
}

Real-Time Location Tracking in Action

Now that you’ve implemented real-time location tracking, let’s see it in action:

Device	Location	Map
iOS	Latitude: 37.7749, Longitude: -122.4194
Android	Latitude: 37.7749, Longitude: -122.4194

Conclusion

Implementing real-time live location tracking in Flutter apps is a breeze with the `geolocator` package. By following this comprehensive guide, you’ve learned how to:

• Request location permissions from the user
• Get the device’s location
• Implement real-time location tracking
• Integrate with Google Maps

Now, go ahead and create your own location-based apps with real-time live location tracking! 📍

Note: This article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for production without proper testing and error handling. Additionally, ensure you comply with Google Maps API usage guidelines and terms of service.

Frequently Asked Question

Wondering how to implement real-time live location tracking in your Flutter app? We’ve got you covered! Check out these frequently asked questions to get started.